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1. Why is there a fee to play pickleball? Why do I have to join CTPA to play pickleball? Why do I have to pay to play as a Cranberry tax payer?

In short, there would not be any pickleball  courts  without CTPA.   The agreement  that was worked out with the township was that member's fee would pay for all the capital & operational costs using no taxpayers money.   Since then CTPA via it's fees and members donations has succeeded to meet and exceed this agreement.  In exchange CTPA provides adult entertainment & exercise to well over 1500 adults and continue to teach the game of pickleball to those interested in learning.   CTPA is part of Cranberry Parks & Rec department but operates under a unique agreement that allows the volunteer to manage its own programming meeting to the township's guidelines. 

Why do I have to pay a fee to play pickleball especially as a Cranberry resident who pay taxes?   First no taxes are used for pickleball.  CTPA pays 100% of the operational & capital cost of the courts , including paying to the township additional fees above & beyond for any staff support. CTPA is a volunteer organization with over 150 members volunteering over 8500 hours per year. In short, CTPA generates revenue for the township to help subsidize the Parks & Rec budget.   A Cranberry resident has to pay to golf or to swim so charging a fee is not an unusual practice.

Why do I have to join CTPA to play pickleball?  It's a very common practice to charge a fee.   For your kids to play in the parks you must pay  CTAA (baseball & softball);  SVSC (soccer); SVJFA (football); Dek Hockey; Volleyball - all charge per participant or team, by the season.  Look to Cranberry Twp Park & Rec Program schedule and every program offered has a fee.    The CTPA membership fee is very modest.

Why can I play tennis or shoot basketball for free and must pay to play pickleball?    Because those courts are paid 100% with taxpayers money and no programming or scheduling is done on these courts.   In the case of pickleball, CTPA provides 16 hour/day, seven days a week of programming  for its members and pays for 100% of all their operational and capital costs.   All programming is done by volunteers.   CTPA has taught the game of pickleball to over 1200 students and continue to teach 300-400 new students/year.   Again all with volunteers. 

2. Why does CTPA have exclusive hours to the courts?

Direct donations for pickleball courts would fund only two courts. With the formation of CTPA, and an agreement with Community Chest and the Township, CTPA will help to pay the debt incurred to build eight courts. Ultimately, CTPA hopes to build more courts with membership fee and other revenue streams.

3. How were the CTPA rules determined?

Members of the CTPA advisory board met with six different pickleball associations including The Villages. Additional interviews were conducted with players from 40 regions in the nation to determine what was, and was not successful.

4. Why should I join CTPA? I do not want a rating or to compete.

Everyone who becomes a member comes in as a 2.5 rated member.   Over 60% of our members have this rating and most do not care as they are playing in games where ratings are not important.    CTPA is popular because you can play the type of pickleball that you enjoy.   And there is always someone there to play the game with you.

5. Have a question that's not listed?

Email or call: Contact@CTPApickleball.com Ph: 724-779-4 FUN(4386).

6. How can I identify a CTPA member?

CTPA members will queue with a photo-id membership card. Non-Members will not be permitted to play during CTPA hours.

7. I want to play only with my friends in Public Play.

The rules for Public Play was determine by the Township, not CTPA.   The winning team stays on and split and losing team leaves, allowing two new players to join the two that remain, is a common format that assures that everyone can play.  Private games during Public Play times is not allowed.  CTPA does offer to members Your Four Play that allows any four members of any rating to play exclusively together along with other benefits.

8. During CTPA hours, I see empty courts -why can’t I use them if I am not a member?

We fully expect some days with empty courts especially as we experiment with our schedule. If CTPA has extra court capacity, we will extend public play but we expect the opposite to happen. As CTPA membership exceeds available court times for, we will shorten public play availability.